Free guide · Last reviewed October 1, 2026
How to Legally Immigrate to the United States: From Green Card to Citizenship
A plain-language map of the two stages of legal immigration: becoming a lawful permanent resident (a green card holder), and then becoming a U.S. citizen. What each one takes, what changed in 2026, how to avoid scams, and free videos and a study app for the citizenship test.
This page is general information, not legal advice. TapForge Studios is an independent app developer, not a law firm, and is not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency. Immigration rules changed many times in 2025 and 2026 and may change again. Always confirm on uscis.gov or travel.state.gov, and talk to a licensed immigration attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative about your own case.
Resident first, then citizen
Legal residence and citizenship aren't two separate goals. They're two stops on the same road. Almost everyone who becomes a U.S. citizen through immigration first spends years as a lawful permanent resident, the official name for a green card holder. The years you spend as a resident are exactly what qualify you to apply for citizenship later, so how you live during that time matters.
Green card holder vs. citizen: what actually changes
| Permanent resident (green card) | U.S. citizen | |
|---|---|---|
| Live and work anywhere in the U.S. | Yes | Yes |
| Vote in federal elections | No. Voting as a non-citizen is a crime and can lead to removal. | Yes |
| U.S. passport | No. You travel on your home-country passport plus your green card. | Yes |
| Can the status be lost? | Yes, for certain crimes, fraud, or abandoning U.S. residence. | Only in rare cases of citizenship obtained by fraud. |
| Long trips abroad | Over 6 months raises questions; a year or more can cost you the card unless you got a reentry permit first. | No limit. |
| Sponsor relatives | Spouse and unmarried children only, usually with multi-year waits. | Spouse, children, parents and siblings. Immediate relatives skip the yearly cap. |
| Renewals | Renew the card every 10 years (2 years if conditional). | Never. The naturalization certificate doesn't expire. |
| Federal jobs, jury duty, elected office | Mostly no. | Yes. |
| Deployed abroad or living overseas for years | Risky. Residence can be considered abandoned. | Fine. Citizenship travels with you. |
| File U.S. taxes on worldwide income | Yes. | Yes. |
Step 1: Become a lawful permanent resident (get a green card)
A green card makes you a lawful permanent resident: you can live and work in the United States indefinitely. You can't simply apply for one because you'd like to move here. You need a legal basis that qualifies you, and almost all of them fall into one of these groups:
Family
A U.S. citizen can sponsor a spouse, children, parents (if the citizen is 21 or older) and siblings. A green card holder can sponsor a spouse and unmarried children. Spouses, unmarried children under 21 and parents of adult citizens are "immediate relatives" with no yearly limit. Everyone else waits in line, sometimes for many years.
Employment
Usually a U.S. employer sponsors you, often after proving no qualified U.S. worker is available (the PERM labor certification). People with extraordinary ability, outstanding researchers, some advanced-degree professionals, and investors have their own categories, a few of which allow you to petition for yourself.
Refugee or asylum
For people who cannot return home because of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. Refugees are processed outside the U.S.; asylum is requested inside the U.S. or at a port of entry, normally within one year of arriving. Both can lead to a green card after one year.
Diversity Visa lottery Paused
A yearly lottery for people from countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S. The State Department paused all diversity visa issuance in December 2025 and the DV-2027 registration never opened. If it returns, enter only at the official site, dvprogram.state.gov, and never through an agent.
Special categories
Includes victims of certain crimes and of human trafficking (U and T visas), abused spouses and children of citizens or residents (VAWA), abused or abandoned children (Special Immigrant Juvenile status), religious workers, some Afghan and Iraqi allies of the U.S. government, and people serving in the U.S. military.
Not sure which one fits?
USCIS lists every category on its green card eligibility page. A free legal clinic can check your situation in one appointment; see where to find help below.
How the green card process works
The details depend on your category, but most cases follow the same shape:
- Someone files a petition for you. A relative files Form I-130, or an employer files Form I-140 (some people can self-petition). The date USCIS receives it becomes your priority date.
- Wait for a visa number, if your category has a yearly limit. Immediate relatives of citizens skip this step. Everyone else watches the monthly Visa Bulletin until their priority date is "current."
- Apply for the green card itself. From outside the U.S.: the National Visa Center, Form DS-260, a medical exam and an interview at a U.S. consulate (consular processing). Already in the U.S. legally and eligible: file Form I-485 to adjust status without leaving.
- Biometrics and interview. Fingerprints, a photo, FBI background checks and, in most cases, an interview. Marriage cases are interviewed closely.
- Approval. Your green card arrives in the mail. Carry it, keep it valid, report every move to USCIS within 10 days, and read the next section before you plan any long trip.
What it costs (USCIS fees as of October 2026)
| Form | What it's for | Online | Paper |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-130 | Family petition (a relative sponsors you) | $625 | $675 |
| I-485 | Adjustment of status (green card application inside the U.S.) | $1,390 | $1,440 |
| N-400 | Application for naturalization (citizenship) | $710 | $760 |
| N-400, reduced | Household income under 400% of the poverty guidelines | — | $380 |
Fees change, DHS proposed new naturalization fees in June 2026, and sending the wrong amount gets a filing rejected. Check the USCIS Fee Calculator the week you file. Government forms are always free to download at uscis.gov/forms; a medical exam, translations, photos and any attorney are separate costs.
Living as a green card holder
How you live as a resident decides whether you can become a citizen later, and whether you keep the card at all. Treat these years as building your citizenship case:
- Married less than two years when approved? You get a two-year conditional green card. File Form I-751 in the 90 days before it expires to remove the conditions. Miss that window and your status ends automatically.
- Protect your residence. Keep your home, job, bank accounts and tax filings in the U.S. A trip of more than 6 months can break the "continuous residence" you need for citizenship. A year or more away can be treated as abandoning the green card itself unless you obtained a reentry permit (Form I-131) before leaving.
- File a federal tax return every year as a resident. Filing as a "non-resident alien" to save money can be treated as giving up your residence, and unfiled years are one of the first things the citizenship interview turns up.
- Men ages 18 to 25 must register with Selective Service. It's free and takes two minutes at sss.gov. Not registering can block citizenship until age 31.
- Report every address change to USCIS within 10 days (Form AR-11, online), and renew your card before it expires. An expired card doesn't end your status, but it will stop you from working, traveling and proving you're a resident.
- Never vote, register to vote, or claim to be a citizen, not even by ticking the wrong box on a driver's license or job form. A false claim to citizenship can make you deportable and permanently bar naturalization.
- Stay out of legal trouble, and get advice before any plea. Some offenses that sound minor are deportable for non-citizens. Talk to an immigration attorney before accepting any plea deal.
- Keep paperwork. Tax transcripts, pay stubs, leases and travel records are exactly what the citizenship interview asks for later.
Step 2: Become a U.S. citizen (naturalization)
Once you've been a resident long enough, you can apply to naturalize. The application is Form N-400. To qualify you generally need to:
- Be at least 18 and have held a green card for 5 years, or 3 years if you've been married to and living with a U.S. citizen that whole time. You may file up to 90 days before the anniversary.
- Have continuous residence for that period and have been physically present in the U.S. for at least half of it (30 months out of 5 years, or 18 out of 3).
- Have lived in the state or USCIS district where you apply for at least 3 months.
- Show good moral character: taxes filed, child support paid, honest answers on every form, no disqualifying crimes.
- Pass the English test (speaking, reading and writing) and the civics test, unless you qualify for an age or disability exception.
- Support the Constitution and be willing to take the Oath of Allegiance.
Members and veterans of the U.S. military, and some children of citizens, have special faster rules.
The naturalization process, step by step
- Check eligibility and gather documents. Green card, travel history for the last 5 years, tax returns, marriage and divorce records, and any court records. The USCIS naturalization eligibility tool walks you through it.
- File Form N-400 and pay the fee. Filing online is cheaper, gives you a case status page, and lets you upload evidence. Reduced-fee and fee-waiver requests must be filed on paper.
- Biometrics. Fingerprints and a photo at an Application Support Center. USCIS may reuse prints it already has.
- The interview. At your local USCIS field office, an officer puts you under oath, goes through your N-400 line by line, and gives the English and civics tests. Bring your green card, passport, and anything that changed since you filed.
- Decision. Granted, continued (they need more evidence or you failed a test and get a retest), or denied, with the reason in writing. Denials can be appealed with Form N-336.
- The oath ceremony. You hand in your green card, take the Oath of Allegiance and receive your Certificate of Naturalization. You are a citizen from that moment. Next: apply for a U.S. passport, update your Social Security record, and register to vote.
The citizenship test
The interview includes an English test (the officer speaks with you, asks you to read one sentence and write one sentence) and an oral civics test on U.S. history and government. Which civics test you take depends on when you filed your N-400:
| N-400 filed | Test version | Question bank | Asked | To pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On or after Oct 20, 2025 | 2025 civics test | 128 | Up to 20 | 12 correct (the test stops at 12 right or 9 wrong) |
| Before Oct 20, 2025 | 2008 civics test | 100 | Up to 10 | 6 correct |
| Age 65+ with 20 years as a resident | Special 65/20 list | 20 | Up to 10 | 6 correct, in your own language |
The test is spoken: the officer asks and you answer out loud, and you don't need the exact wording as long as the meaning is right. Some answers change after elections (the President, your senators, your representative, your governor), so check USCIS civics test updates the week before your interview. The official question lists and study materials are free on the USCIS Study for the Test page.
Exceptions: if you are 50 or older with 20 years as a resident, or 55 or older with 15 years, you skip the English test and take civics in your own language with an interpreter. A doctor can certify a physical or mental disability that prevents learning on Form N-648. If you fail either test you get one retest, usually within 60 to 90 days; fail twice and the application is denied.
Videos: the full process and all 128 questions
Two walkthroughs from our YouTube channel. The first covers the whole naturalization process; the second reads every question on the 2025 civics test with its official answer, so you can study while you drive or cook.
¿Prefiere español? Esta guía y los videos también están disponibles en español: Cómo inmigrar legalmente a Estados Unidos →
What changed in 2026
- New civics test. Applicants who filed Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025 take the 2025 test: 128 questions in the bank, up to 20 asked, 12 correct to pass.
- Diversity Visa paused. The State Department stopped issuing diversity visas in December 2025 and the DV-2027 lottery never opened for registration.
- Travel and visa restrictions. A presidential proclamation restricts entry for nationals of 39 countries, and since January 21, 2026 the State Department has paused immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries. Both are separate from anything USCIS does inside the country.
- USCIS processing hold struck down. USCIS had frozen green card, work permit and citizenship decisions for people from the 39 travel-ban countries. A federal court in Rhode Island vacated that hold in June 2026 and USCIS resumed processing, though part of the related "re-review" policy is still being litigated.
- Stricter public-charge screening at consulates. A February 2026 State Department memo tells consular officers to look harder at whether a visa applicant is likely to rely on public benefits.
- Fees. A 2025 law added new mandatory fees for asylum, work permits and some other benefits, and in June 2026 DHS proposed raising the N-400 fee and ending the reduced fee and fee waiver. That proposal is not in effect yet, so the current fee schedule still applies.
Official updates: USCIS Newsroom · State Department visa news · Civics test updates
Avoid immigration scams
- Only a licensed attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative can give immigration legal advice. A "notario," notary public, travel agency or "immigration consultant" cannot, no matter what the sign says. In many Latin American countries a notario is a lawyer; in the U.S. it is not.
- Government forms are free. Never pay for a blank form, and never let someone file under their own account where you can't see what was submitted.
- Nobody can guarantee approval, speed up your case through "contacts," or get you a visa that doesn't exist.
- USCIS will never ask you to pay a fee by gift card, wire transfer, or to a person. Real government email addresses end in .gov.
- Keep copies of everything you sign and submit, and read every form before signing. Someone else's mistake on your form is still your false statement.
- Report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission and read more on the USCIS Avoid Scams page.
Free and low-cost help
- National Immigration Legal Services Directory: nonprofit immigration legal services, searchable by state and county.
- DOJ list of recognized organizations and accredited representatives: the official roster of non-attorneys who are allowed to represent you.
- USCIS: find citizenship classes and help in your community, including free English and civics classes.
- Pro bono legal service providers for anyone in immigration court.
- Your public library and community college often host free citizenship classes and N-400 workshops. In Indiana, for example, many libraries partner with local nonprofits for exactly this.
Study apps for the citizenship test
Two apps from our studio, built for the interview. Both work offline, and the core of each is free.
Oathway: US Citizenship Test
2025 civics test prep: mock interview with voice. Help in Spanish + 11 more
Lingoforge: Learn Languages
Learn Spanish, French, Italian or Portuguese offline. Real stories, no account.
From the blog:
How to Study for the Naturalization Civics ExamHow to study for the naturalization civics exam: use active recall, short daily sessions, and spoken practice before your USCIS interview with calm.
Quick answers
Can I apply for U.S. citizenship without a green card?
Generally no. Most adults must first be lawful permanent residents (green card holders) for 5 years, or 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen. Members of the U.S. military and children of U.S. citizens have separate rules.
How much does it cost to become a U.S. citizen?
As of October 2026 the Form N-400 filing fee is $710 online or $760 on paper, with a $380 reduced fee for households under 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines and a full fee waiver for some applicants. DHS has proposed higher fees, so confirm the current amount on the USCIS Fee Calculator before you file.
How long does it take to become a citizen?
You must hold a green card for 5 years (3 years if married to a citizen) before applying. After you file Form N-400, processing usually takes several months to about a year depending on your local USCIS office. USCIS publishes current processing times online.
What is the difference between a green card and citizenship?
A green card (lawful permanent residence) lets you live and work in the U.S. permanently, but you cannot vote in federal elections, you travel on your home-country passport, you must renew the card every 10 years, and you can lose the status for certain crimes or by living abroad. Citizenship is permanent, comes with a U.S. passport and the right to vote, and cannot be lost by moving abroad.
Can I take the citizenship test in Spanish?
Only if you qualify for an age exception: 50 or older with 20 years as a permanent resident, or 55 or older with 15 years, are exempt from the English test and may take the civics test in their own language with an interpreter. Applicants 65 or older with 20 years study a shorter list of 20 questions. Everyone else takes the test in English.
What happens if I fail the civics or English test?
You get one retest, usually scheduled 60 to 90 days later, on the part you failed. If you fail again, the application is denied and you would have to file and pay for a new N-400.
Do I need an immigration lawyer?
Not always, but it is strongly recommended if you have ever had an arrest, an immigration violation, a prior denial, long trips outside the U.S., unpaid taxes, or a complicated family situation. Many nonprofits offer free or low-cost consultations with DOJ-accredited representatives.
Can a green card be taken away?
Yes. Permanent residents can be placed in removal proceedings for certain crimes, for immigration fraud, or for abandoning their U.S. residence, for example by living outside the country for a year or more without a reentry permit. Citizenship, once granted, can only be revoked in rare cases of fraud.
This guide is for general educational purposes and is not legal advice. TapForge Studios (99 Cent Apps LLC) is not a law firm, is not affiliated with USCIS, the U.S. Department of State or any government agency, and does not provide immigration services. Laws, fees and policies change; verify everything with official sources and a qualified professional before acting on it. Corrections and questions: contact@tapforgeapps.com.